Aussies master strong winds
Duo in the chasing pack
Australian star Cameron Smith has clawed into contention at the Masters.
On a windswept Saturday when the leaders backed up, Smith edged to within five shots of the lead, carding a dogged second-round 72.
The 2022 British Open champion jumped six spots into a tie for eighth place in the year’s first major.
“I’m pretty proud of the way I hung in there,” Smith said.
“It was tough.”
American trio Bryson DeChambeau (73 using revolutionary new clubs), world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (72) and Max Homa (71) shared the halfway lead at six-under.
Unsung Australian Cam Davis was tied for fifth place, three shots off the pace, while Tiger Woods (one-over) made a record 24th-straight cut.
Howling winds were the enemy at Augusta National on Friday but not for Davis.
Growing up grinding on breezy courses in Sydney’s northern beaches held him in good stead, he said.
And for 95 minutes, he was the clubhouse leader.
“I feel like pars are good scores,” Davis said of his evenpar 72.
“I had a couple of stumbles, but felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum.
“I’m happy to put my feet up this afternoon.”
Davis, 29, has one US PGA Tour win to his name but was in the calculations of Masters broadcaster Ian Baker-Finch in the lead up to the tournament.
“Cam has got the game if he can finish it off,” Baker-Finch said.
Stronger winds are forecast for the weekend.
“I’ve never experienced Augusta National in these conditions before,” DeChambeau said.
Smith endured the worst of the day’s weather but hung in bravely to shoot even-par.
Jason Day, Min Woo Lee (both four-over) and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott (six-over) all made the cut but Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs (12-over) will not play on the weekend.
“It’s a pretty special place and obviously the tournament was a bit tough itself with this wind,” Stubbs said.
“I’m still really happy with my week and it’s something I’ll remember forever.”
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy (four-over) struggled again at the Masters, sitting 10 shots off the leaders.
Players to miss the cut included US Open champion Wyndham Clark, British Open winner Brian Harman, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.